PRKAR2B-HIF-1? loop promotes aerobic glycolysis and tumour growth in prostate cancer.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:Reprogramming of cellular metabolism is profoundly implicated in tumorigenesis and can be exploited to cancer treatment. Cancer cells are known for their propensity to use glucose-dependent glycolytic pathway instead of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation for energy generation even in the presence of oxygen, a phenomenon known as Warburg effect. The type II beta regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (PKA), PRKAR2B, is highly expressed in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and contributes to tumour growth and metastasis. However, whether PRKAR2B regulates glucose metabolism in prostate cancer remains largely unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies were used to investigate the regulatory role of PRKAR2B in aerobic glycolysis. Real-time qPCR, Western blotting, luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation were employed to determine the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS:PRKAR2B was sufficient to enhance the Warburg effect as demonstrated by glucose consumption, lactate production and extracellular acidification rate. Mechanistically, loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies showed that PRKAR2B was critically involved in the tumour growth of prostate cancer. PRKAR2B was able to increase the expression level of hypoxia-inducible factor 1? (HIF-1?), which is a key mediator of the Warburg effect. Moreover, we uncovered that HIF-1? is a key transcription factor responsible for inducing PRKAR2B expression in prostate cancer. Importantly, inhibition of glycolysis by the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) or replacement of glucose in the culture medium with galactose (which has a much lower rate than glucose entry into glycolysis) largely compromised PRKAR2B-mediated tumour-promoting effect. Similar phenomenon was noticed by genetic silencing of HIF-1?. CONCLUSIONS:Our study identified that PRKAR2B-HIF-1? loop enhances the Warburg effect to enable growth advantage in prostate cancer.

SUBMITTER: Xia L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7653268 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature